There are over 10,000 religions worldwide (Wasserman, 2024), with most of them falling under the “twelve “classical religions - Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism” (Major religions of the world, 2020). However it is important to note that many individuals also combine their beliefs from multiple religions/spiritual beliefs, such as individuals who consider themselves “Christian Buddhists” or “Secular Jews.” It is also important to note that the true number of religions/spiritual beliefs worldwide may actually be “indeterminate and innumerable” (Chidester, 2018), and because the individuals and institutions gathering and correlating the data are often Euro-centric, many Indigenous and African religions and spiritual belief systems are often left out of the lists.
Individuals who follow an “organized/institutional religion” typically subscribe to certain values and beliefs in the texts or speeches of religious leaders, and believe in an origin story of the universe. Religious and spiritual groups offer individuals a sense of community, belonging, and purpose. Religion and spiritual beliefs can also influence an individual’s values and outlook of life on Earth.
Charts and Graphs from GALLUP
Find images of historic religious art, architecture, and artifacts through the UCNJ Libraries' Databases! Pictured below are a few works of art available for free use from the JSTOR database
Charts and Graphs from Pew Research Center
Angel of the Divine Presence Bringing Eve to Adam (The Creation of Eve: "And She Shall be Called Woman) (recto); Sketch for the same (verso), by William Blake, ~1803
Bahram Gur and Azada, from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940-1019 or 1025), 1500s.
Judith puts the head of Holofernes into her maid's bag, by Hendrik Goltzius, n.d.
Symbols and talismans from Hindu, pagan and Jewish religions illustrating superstition. Engraving, artist unknown, n.d.
The creation of Eve. From: The story of Adam and Eve, by Heinrich Aldegrever, 1869
Adam and Eve, by Albrecht Dürer, 1504
Aldegrever, H. (n.d.). The creation of Eve. From: The story of Adam and Eve [Engraving]. Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa. https://jstor.org/stable/community.27018180
Bahram Gur and Azada, from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940-1019 or 1025). (1500s). [Opaque watercolor and gold on paper]. The Cleveland Museum of Art. https://jstor.org/stable/community.24555211
Blake, W. (1803). Angel of the Divine Presence Bringing Eve to Adam (The Creation of Eve: "And She Shall be Called Woman") [Watercolor, pen and black ink, over graphite]. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://jstor.org/stable/community.18606446
Chidester, D. (2018). World Religions in the World. Journal for the Study of Religion, 31(1), 41–53. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26489081
Dürer, A. (1504). Adam and Eve [Engraving]. The Cleveland Museum of Art. https://jstor.org/stable/community.24604502
Goltzius, H. (n.d.). Judith puts the head of Holofernes into her maid’s bag. Etching after H. Goltzius [Etching]. Wellcome Collection. https://jstor.org/stable/community.24879309
Loeser, P. (2015, May 26). COEXIST movement flag 2010 [Image]. CRW Flags. https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/rel-coex.html
Major religions of the world. (2020). Issues Online: Resources for Schools, Colleges, and Libraries. https://www.issuesonline.co.uk/articles/major-religions-of-the-world
Symbols and talismans from Hindu, pagan and Jewish religions illustrating superstition. (n.d.). [Engraving]. Wellcome Collection. https://jstor.org/stable/community.24857901
Wasserman, P. (2024, January 12). World population by religion: A global tapestry of faith. Population Education. https://populationeducation.org/world-population-by-religion-a-global-tapestry-of-faith
What is "religion" under Title VII? (2015, December 16). United States Customs and Border Protection. https://www.cbp.gov/faqs/what-religion-under-title-vii
World Atlas. (2020). What is the oldest religion in the world? [Chart]. Issues Online: Resources for Schools, Colleges, and Libraries. https://www.issuesonline.co.uk/articles/what-is-the-oldest-religion-in-the-world
